Meeting around Corroboree Tree

Saturday 5 December 2009 - 6.30pm
Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment
Mark Carmody, Arborist
Dr Dianne Firth, Deputy Chair Heritage Council
Local residents

The Commissioner explained she got involved when a resident complained that the tree was suddenly losing leaves and looking sick.

INDIGENOUS HISTORY
Dr Firth: looked in as many primary sources as she can find for evidence that the tree was a corroboree tree and can’t find any.
K Beauchamp: Referred to oral history (Voices of Old Ainslie etc. - ref History section in complaint to Commissioner about mismanagement of Corroboree Tree - to the effect that mother of resident on Paterson Street recalls seeing indigenous people sitting around a 4 stemmed tree, with indigenous elder sitting in the middle (ground level) and that subsequently such meetings were loosely termed corroboree by European historians or recorders.
Dr Firth responded that identifying the Corroboree tree as a place where corroborees had taken place may be a romantic idea that doesn’t necessarily have much foundation in fact – but then again the name Corroboree Park must have originated somewhere, although it might have been on the basis of the same oral tradition.
Commissioner: Reported she has spoken with Matilda House and expects to hear about her views. She stated there are some who want to take the Corroboree Tree out and others who think it can be managed.


TREE CONDITION
Mark Carmody (Arborist advising the Commissioner):
Tree in decline but very different kettle of fish from the tall tree. Can be managed and could go on for another hundred years. Said the stems are very strong and the tree is solid. No one can be sure it will not die but much can be done for it. (In response to question) said he does not believe the Northwest leaning stem is hollow down to the ground and just full of matter. Said “It doesn’t seem hollow; it seems solid”

He said there were a few dead branches which ought to be removed.

It is fine for children to climb it. It’s strong and tough.
Kate Beauchamp: So you don’t agree that the lignotuber ( the rounded woody growth at or below ground level, containing a mass of buds and food reserves) or old trunk underneath could be rotten or have termites?
NO! It’s very healthy. Leave it to its own devices and it will come back. It is covered with new shoots, even though it has had some lerp. (Psyllid insects)
Pointed to branch union where branch had been cut off and pointed out the epicormic growth over the top of the wound, saying tree is going well.
Said TAMS had informed him they did do light waterings (when?). He related this to the grass growth (NB which competes with the roots).
Kate Beauchamp said the grass appeared only after the 2009 Spring rains.

MANAGEMENT
1. Take out melaleuca bearing down on lateral branch, which is dead, dead weight.
2. Probably take out another two melaleucas3. Pull up the grass which is competing for moisture.
4. Give the tree water – about 40 mls – now. (Don’t core the impacted earth – don’t do anything at all to disturb the roots).
5. Put down mulch (how deep???) About every month, residents should ‘tickle’ the mulch to loosen it and ensure that water gets in.
6. Most important of all get vehicles away from the tree. The best thing would be a low fence around the whole park. Then he reiterated that vehicles are the thing to get rid of.
7. Take out the Nettle tree growing in amongst the epicormic shoot on the north west side.

Dr Firth (responding to question about signage): There is a case for heritage sign explaining the worth of Corroboree Park as a whole. Did she want the tree singled out at all? Perhaps mentioned on the sign but not with the sign near the tree. In response to question from resident Kate Beauchamp: in other places where heritage signs are put up it does result in better behaviours.

Richard De Ferranti (resident on park) recalled that he thought that the Chief Minister at one of the last two elections promised a management plan for Corroboree Park and that there was vying between parties for who could offer the best plan for the Park.

Commissioner asked Julia Pitts to make a note and said she would follow this up.

Dr Firth said she was taking this up at a (presumably Heritage) meeting during the week (beginning 7th December).

Commissioner: TAMS people are like us, they mean well, they don’t go off to work in the morning with plans to kill trees.
Resident/s: They still end up doing that.
Commissioner spoke about importance of community groups and said we should become one as did the Bass Gardens community group.
Genette Purnell agreed and said we should link with groups all over Canberra. Talked about the Brumbies issue. Said TAMS ringbarked trees near bike path near Manuka oval and admitted it. Wanted the trees killed because they are ‘too close to the bike path’
Residents: Move the bike path!